How to Adopt an Adult in Ohio
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Ohio · Last updated October 7, 2026
Ohio is a closed list state for adult adoption, and that is the first thing to understand before you file anything. The proceeding itself is a probate court case that permanently makes one adult the legal parent of another, carrying the inheritance and next of kin consequences of a parent and child relationship. R.C. 3107.02(B) then allows it in only five situations: the adult is totally or permanently disabled; the adult is a person with a developmental disability as defined in R.C. 5123.01; the adult established a child-foster caregiver, kinship caregiver, or child-stepparent relationship with the petitioners as a minor; the adult was in the permanent custody of, or a planned permanent living arrangement with, a public children services agency or a private child placing agency on their eighteenth birthday; or the adult is the child of the petitioner's spouse. There is no general route for two consenting adults. The statewide petition, Standard Probate Form 19.0, prints those five conditions as five checkboxes. The five also split on consent. The last three each end with the words 'and the adult consents to the adoption'. The two disability conditions carry no consent clause, and R.C. 3107.14(C) lets the court act where consents 'are not necessary'. Where consent is required, it is signed in the presence of the court (R.C. 3107.08(A)(1)). A married petitioner normally brings their spouse in as a co-petitioner (R.C. 3107.03). Birth parents neither consent nor receive notice. Ohio sets no minimum age gap and no residency period, requires no home study of an adult, and changes the adoptee's name in the same order. Attorney review of your petition is available through DocDraft.
Find out where you stand in Ohio
Who are you hoping to adopt?
DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.
Who can be adopted as an adult in Ohio?
Only an adult who fits one of five conditions in R.C. 3107.02(B): totally or permanently disabled; a person with a developmental disability under R.C. 5123.01; a former foster, kinship or stepchild of the petitioners; a former agency permanent custody youth at eighteen; or the child of the petitioner's spouse.
Does the adult being adopted have to consent in Ohio?
Not in every case. The three relationship conditions in R.C. 3107.02(B) each end with the words and the adult consents to the adoption. The two disability conditions contain no consent clause, and R.C. 3107.14(C) permits a decree where the required consents have been obtained or are not necessary.
Which court handles an adult adoption in Ohio?
The probate court, which hears and determines petitions for adoption under R.C. 2101.24(A)(1)(ff). R.C. 3107.04(A) puts venue in the county where the adult was born, or where the petitioner, the adult, or a parent of the adult resides when the petition is filed. No family court route exists.
What form starts an Ohio adult adoption?
Standard Probate Form 19.0, Petition for Adoption of Adult, amended November 13, 2025 and captioned to R.C. 3107.02. It asks you to check which of the five conditions applies, state the name the adult will use, and disclose any child support obligation owed for the adoptee.
Ohio adult adoption at a glance
An adult adoption in Ohio is a probate court order that makes one adult the permanent legal parent of another, as if the adopted person were a blood descendant of the petitioner for all purposes including inheritance (R.C. 3107.15(A)(2)). What marks Ohio out is the gate. R.C. 3107.02(A) says simply that any minor may be adopted, while division (B) lists five conditions under which an adult may be adopted, and nothing else. An adult who fits none of the five cannot be adopted here, however willing both people are. Standard Probate Form 19.0 turns that list into five checkboxes. The list is not uniform inside, either: the three relationship conditions require the adult to consent, and the two disability conditions say nothing about consent at all.
Checking the developmental disability box in an Ohio probate court
Imagine you and your wife have cared for your 34 year old nephew, who has a developmental disability determined under R.C. 5123.01, since his mother died six years ago. On Form 19.0 you check the second box. Because that condition carries no and the adult consents clause, the probate court can proceed on a finding under R.C. 3107.14(C) that consent is not necessary. Your wife joins as co-petitioner under R.C. 3107.03(A). You file in the Lucas County probate court where he lives, state the value of his property as R.C. 3107.05(A)(9) requires, and both of you appear. His grandmother then rewrites her trust to name him, because R.C. 3107.15(A)(3) would otherwise keep him out of a gift to her grandchildren. Attorney review of the petition is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
Ohio Rev. Code 3107.02(B) (the five conditions for adopting an adult)
Division (A) provides that any minor may be adopted. Division (B) then permits an adult to be adopted only where the adult is totally or permanently disabled, has a developmental disability under R.C. 5123.01, had a foster, kinship or stepchild relationship with the petitioners as a minor, was in agency permanent custody at eighteen, or is the child of the petitioner's spouse. Amended by H.B. 5, effective March 20, 2025.
Ohio Rev. Code 3107.03 (who may adopt, and when a spouse need not join)
Permits a husband and wife together, an unmarried adult, or a married adult without the other spouse joining as petitioner where that spouse is a parent of the person to be adopted and consents, the spouses are separated, or the court finds the failure to join is due to absence, unavailability, incapacity or similar circumstances. No age differential appears.
Ohio Rev. Code 3107.08(A)(1) (how the adult's consent is executed)
Provides that required consent to adoption, if given by the person to be adopted, whether a minor or an adult, shall be executed in the presence of the court. Other consenting persons may sign before anyone authorized to take acknowledgments, so the adoptee's own consent is the stricter case.
Ohio Rev. Code 3107.15 (effect of the decree, and the adult inheritance carve-out)
Creates the parent and child relationship as if the adopted person were a legitimate blood descendant for all purposes including inheritance, then excludes a person adopted at eighteen or older, and their lineal descendants, from class gifts to children, grandchildren, heirs, issue, lineal descendants and next of kin unless the instrument names them or expressly covers an adult adoptee.
Ohio Supreme Court Standard Probate Form 19.0, Petition for Adoption of Adult
The statewide petition for an adult adoption, captioned to R.C. 3107.02 and amended November 13, 2025. It reduces the five statutory conditions to five checkboxes, asks for the name the adult will be known by after adoption, and requires disclosure of any child support or cash medical support obligation owed for the adoptee. Form 19.1 is the matching final order.
Regional Variances
Ohio adult adoption rules at a glance
Who may be adopted
A closed list of five conditions in R.C. 3107.02(B), with no general route for any consenting adult. Contrast division (A), which says any minor may be adopted. An adult outside the five cannot be adopted in an Ohio probate court.
Age of majority
Eighteen. R.C. 3109.01 makes all persons of the age of eighteen years or more, who are under no legal disability, of full age for all purposes, and the inheritance carve-out in R.C. 3107.15(A)(3) keys to the same number.
Age relationship
No minimum gap. R.C. 3107.03 lists who may adopt without any years requirement, and R.C. 3107.02(B) adds none. R.C. 3107.031 bars the assessor from considering the petitioner's age when deciding suitability to adopt.
Consent of the adult being adopted
Required by the express terms of the three relationship conditions, R.C. 3107.02(B)(3), (B)(4) and (B)(5), each of which ends and the adult consents to the adoption. The two disability conditions, (B)(1) and (B)(2), carry no consent clause.
How that consent is signed
In the presence of the court. R.C. 3107.08(A)(1) applies to consent by the person to be adopted, whether a minor or an adult. Form 18.3, Consent to Adoption, is the only consent form Ohio publishes; there is no 19 series consent form.
Consent of the adoptee's spouse
Nothing is required of the adult adoptee's spouse. Every occurrence of the word spouse across the full text of R.C. Chapter 3107 concerns the petitioner's spouse rather than the adoptee's, so no consent and no notice attaches.
The petitioner's spouse
Joinder, not consent. R.C. 3107.03(A) contemplates a husband and wife petitioning together, and division (C) lets a married adult proceed alone only where that spouse is a parent of the adult and consents, the spouses are separated, or the court excuses the absence.
Birth parents
No consent and no notice. R.C. 3107.06 opens with a petition to adopt a minor, and R.C. 3107.11(A) sends notice only to those whose consent the chapter requires. The putative father registry sections R.C. 3107.061 through 3107.0614 are confined to minors.
Court and venue
Probate court only, under R.C. 2101.24(A)(1)(ff), and R.C. 3107.01(F) defines court as the probate courts of this state. Venue under R.C. 3107.04(A) is the county of the adult's birth, or where the petitioner, the adult, or a parent of the adult resides.
Residency
No durational requirement. R.C. 3107.04(A) sets venue options only, with no months in state or months in county floor, although R.C. 3107.05(A)(5) makes you plead the place and duration of your residence in the petition.
Filing fee
TODO(source) for the adult figure. R.C. 2101.16(A)(3) contains the only adoption entry in the probate fee schedule, adoption of child, petition for, at $20.00. Whether it reaches an adult is unresolved on the statute's face, so ask the county clerk.
Home study and assessment
Not expressly waived, but textually inapplicable. R.C. 3107.031 keys the home study to a person seeking to adopt a minor, and R.C. 3107.12(A) keys the prefinalization assessment to a minor and petitioner, so neither reaches an adult adoption.
Waiting period
None that bites on an adult. The six month bar in R.C. 3107.14(C) runs from the date of placement of the person to be adopted in the petitioner's home, and placement belongs to minor adoption. The thirty day floor in R.C. 3107.11(A) measures from placement of a minor.
Name change
In the same proceeding. R.C. 3107.05(A)(3) makes the petition state the name to be used, R.C. 3107.04(C) designates the adult in the caption under the name they will be known by if granted, and Form 19.1 orders the change.
Inheritance
Full under R.C. 3107.15(A)(2), then narrowed by (A)(3), which excludes a person adopted at eighteen or older and their lineal descendants from class gifts to children, grandchildren, heirs, issue, lineal descendants or next of kin unless the instrument names them expressly.
Vacating the decree
Six months after a decree issues it cannot be vacated on any ground, including fraud or lack of jurisdiction, with one adult specific exception in R.C. 3107.16(B): where the adopted adult had no knowledge of the decree within that six month period.
Statewide forms
Ohio publishes them. Form 19.0 is the Petition for Adoption of Adult and Form 19.1 the Final Order of Adoption of Adult, both in the Supreme Court standard probate forms series. Form 19.4 notifies a child support enforcement agency under R.C. 3107.20.
After the decree
The court, not you, files outward. R.C. 3107.19 requires it to forward a copy of the certificate of adoption to the department of health within thirty days after the decree becomes final, and R.C. 3107.20 requires notice to any child support enforcement agency.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Confirm the adult fits one of the five conditions
Before you draft anything days after startingRead R.C. 3107.02(B) and decide which single condition you will rely on. If none applies, an Ohio probate court has no power to grant the petition, and that answer is better reached now than after filing.
Decide whether the adult's consent is needed
With the eligibility check days after startingThe relationship conditions in R.C. 3107.02(B)(3), (B)(4) and (B)(5) require it; the disability conditions in (B)(1) and (B)(2) do not. R.C. 3107.14(C) permits a decree where consents have been obtained or are not necessary.
Settle whether your spouse joins the petition
Before drafting the petition days after startingCheck R.C. 3107.03(C) against your situation. Petitioning alone while married works only where that spouse is a parent of the adult and consents, the spouses are separated, or the court finds the absence excusable.
Prepare Standard Probate Form 19.0
First document to prepare days after startingUse the November 13, 2025 version. Check the condition relied on, enter the name the adult will be known by, and disclose any child support or cash medical support obligation owed for the adoptee. Attorney review of the petition is available through DocDraft.
Assemble the R.C. 3107.05 attachments
With the petition days after startingGather the certified birth certificate if available, the adult's date and place of birth, your residence history and marital details, the relationship between you, and a description and estimate of value of all property of the person to be adopted.
Prepare the consent if a consent route applies
Before the hearing days after startingForm 18.3, Consent to Adoption, is the only consent form Ohio publishes. Do not have the adult notarize it at home: R.C. 3107.08(A)(1) requires consent by the person to be adopted to be executed in the presence of the court.
File in the probate court and ask the clerk the cost
When the papers are signed days after startingFile under R.C. 3107.04(A) in the county of the adult's birth or where you, the adult, or a parent of the adult resides. R.C. 2101.16 sets no adult adoption fee, so request that court's own cost schedule.
Appear at the hearing with the adult
On your hearing date days after startingR.C. 3107.14(A) requires the petitioner and the person sought to be adopted to appear unless the court excuses a presence for good cause. The court may examine petitioners separately under division (B) before granting the order.
Review every will, trust and beneficiary form
After the decree days after startingR.C. 3107.15(A)(3) keeps an adult adoptee out of gifts to a class such as children, heirs or issue unless the document names them expressly, so relatives who want the adoptee included must say so in writing.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm the adult fits one of the five conditions | Read R.C. 3107.02(B) and decide which single condition you will rely on. If none applies, an Ohio probate court has no power to grant the petition, and that answer is better reached now than after filing. | - | Before you draft anything |
| Decide whether the adult's consent is needed | The relationship conditions in R.C. 3107.02(B)(3), (B)(4) and (B)(5) require it; the disability conditions in (B)(1) and (B)(2) do not. R.C. 3107.14(C) permits a decree where consents have been obtained or are not necessary. | - | With the eligibility check |
| Settle whether your spouse joins the petition | Check R.C. 3107.03(C) against your situation. Petitioning alone while married works only where that spouse is a parent of the adult and consents, the spouses are separated, or the court finds the absence excusable. | - | Before drafting the petition |
| Prepare Standard Probate Form 19.0 | Use the November 13, 2025 version. Check the condition relied on, enter the name the adult will be known by, and disclose any child support or cash medical support obligation owed for the adoptee. Attorney review of the petition is available through DocDraft. | - | First document to prepare |
| Assemble the R.C. 3107.05 attachments | Gather the certified birth certificate if available, the adult's date and place of birth, your residence history and marital details, the relationship between you, and a description and estimate of value of all property of the person to be adopted. | - | With the petition |
| Prepare the consent if a consent route applies | Form 18.3, Consent to Adoption, is the only consent form Ohio publishes. Do not have the adult notarize it at home: R.C. 3107.08(A)(1) requires consent by the person to be adopted to be executed in the presence of the court. | - | Before the hearing |
| File in the probate court and ask the clerk the cost | File under R.C. 3107.04(A) in the county of the adult's birth or where you, the adult, or a parent of the adult resides. R.C. 2101.16 sets no adult adoption fee, so request that court's own cost schedule. | - | When the papers are signed |
| Appear at the hearing with the adult | R.C. 3107.14(A) requires the petitioner and the person sought to be adopted to appear unless the court excuses a presence for good cause. The court may examine petitioners separately under division (B) before granting the order. | - | On your hearing date |
| Review every will, trust and beneficiary form | R.C. 3107.15(A)(3) keeps an adult adoptee out of gifts to a class such as children, heirs or issue unless the document names them expressly, so relatives who want the adoptee included must say so in writing. | - | After the decree |
Frequently Asked Questions
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